Doll head and method of making it



Dec. 9, 1952 oos 2,620,595

DOLL HEAD AND METHOD OF MAKING IT Filed Sept. 19, 1947 FIG.2.

r INVENTOR. FRANK D. MOOS BY Y ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 9, 1952 nonli-HEADANDMETHonoF'MaKING rrf Frank h-Moos, New -Y ork, l \l. Y. 1 Applicatioiisfpteinber 19, 1947,SerialN:o.' Wales:

This invention relates to dolls heads, and particularly to improvements in the method 'of making such heads and the productfthereof. Dolls heads are manufactured from a greatvariety of materials. Those which aremo-st lifelike have natural hair in the form of awig which. is-glued" product which may be made quite lifelike-and interesting.

A further object of the invention is the production of a dolls head in which the face and hair are composed of the same material, that is, a natural skin, whereby the cost of the head is substantially lower and a more satisfactory and durable product is made available.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification and the accompanyin drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation illustrating a dolls head manufactured in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the base upon which the skin is molded as hereinafter described;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the base;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a mold which is employed in forming the facial portion of the head; and

Fig. 5 represents a section of animal skin adapted to be applied to the base.

In carrying out the present invention, I employ furred skins of any suitable animal. The fur is selected to provide hair of the preferred length and of natural appearance. The hair is removed from that portion of the fur which is to form the face and neck of the head, and the skin is molded over a suitable base shaped in the form of a skull with the features of the face thereon. Preferably a recessed mold is employed to ensure application of the skin tightly and in the proper contours. The base is provided with slots on the cranial portion, and the skin is cut so that the edges thereof can be tucked into the slots and secured with a suitable adhesive. The portion of the-skin? having" the. natural hair at tach'ed"providesthe hair on'the dons-head. It

may be} dyed either before orafter application.

Th'e'skin the facial 'portion can bepainted of otherwise" colored to provide a suitable complexion. I

The dolls headsmade' I in accordance with my inventionmayj have any desired features such as those of a baby or child. They may be made'als'o to represent realistically actors and actresses-and base," the featuresmayfb'e' made quite lifelike and T the hair may. be'fo'rmed and'dressd in accord ance with the stylelcomm'o'n'ly adopted by the particular individua'l're'presented by the doll.-

The use of an "animal "skin as'ds'cribed affords adolls headwhich is very" durable.-- The hair is, of course, tightly-held b'y the skin, and it can not be removed Without substantial destruction of the head. Dolls heads constructed in accordance with my invention are extremely lifelike and attractive and much more durable and less costly than dolls heads as heretofore constructed.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates a head having a facial portion 6 with the usual features and hair I on the cranial portion. The hair, as indicated, is natural hair of a skin, the hair having been removed from that portion of the skin which covers the facial part 6 of the head.

In the manufacture of such a dolls head, I first provide a base 8. It may be made of plas ter, papier-mach, plastic or any other moldable material shaped in the form of a skull, with the facial features 9 appearing thereon. Preferably the base is hollow, as indicated by the dotted line [0, but it may be solid. At the rear of the skull portion, I provide, as shown in Fig. 3, diagonal slots II and a central slot I2. The exact form and arrangement of the slots is not essential. They are intended to permit drawing of the skin over the rounded portion of the skull, so that the edges may be tucked into the slots and secured by any suitable adhesive.

I prepare a strip [3 of suitable size, consisting of a furred skin. The part l4 thereof is denuded of hair by cutting it away. Thereafter, any of the well known depilatories may be employed to remove the remainder of the hair, leaving the skin clean and soft. The hair remains on the part l5, which is to cover the skull portion. A part of the skin may be cut away, as indicated at I6, in order that it may be drawn tightly around the skull without wrinkles.

A mold I7 is provided with the facial features 18 formed in intaglio. The mold should be sufiiciently larger than the dimensions of the base 8, so that the skin may be interposed. A suitable adhesive is applied to the base 8, and the base is forced into the mold I! with the bare portion 14 of the skin in proper position so that it will cover the facial part of the base 8. The remainder of the skin is then drawn over the cranial portion of the base 8 and secured with adhesive, the edges of the skin being tucked into the slots l I and I2 and secured therein. The skin is worked down over the neck portion 19 and secured by adhesive. When the latter is dried, the face portion 6 may be withdrawn from the mold. The skin will be found to adhere closely to the features of the face portion. The hair' line may be modified, if necessary, by removal of any excess hair. The face portion may be then painted or otherwise colored to afiord a satisfactory complexion. After dressing the hair, in the desired style, the dolls head is complete. It may be secured to a body of any form, such as are commonly provided in the manufacture of dolls.

Various changes may be made in the procedure as described and in the product without departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. The method of making dolls heads which comprises forming an artificial base in the shape of a skull with the facial features thereon, covering the base with an animal skin from a portion of which the hair has been removed so that the portion from which the hair has been removed covers the facial features and the portion having the natural hair thereon covers the cranial portion of the base, distorting the portion of the skin extending over the facial features to cause it to conform to the irregularities of the facial features, and securing the skin to the base with the irregularities of the distorted portion of the skin conforming to and tightly adhering to corresponding irregularities of the facial features.

2. A dolls head comprising an artificial base having a facial portion and a cranial portion having slots in the outer surface thereof, an animal skin covering said portions, the skin covering the facial portion being free from hair and molded to the facial form of the base, and the skin covering the cranial portion being a continuation of the skin covering the facial portion and having the natural hair thereon, the edges of the portions of the skin covering the cranial portion being secured within said slots.

FRANK D. MOOS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 149,831 Brock Apr. 21, 1874 260,484 Leonard July 4, 1882 1,221,157 Downey Apr. 3, 1917 1,329,509 Dane et al Feb. 3, 1920 1,478,348 Myers Dec. 18, 1923 1,638,594 Myers Aug. 9, 1927 1,783,721 Keney Dec. 2, 1930 2,129,176 Holman Sept. 6, 1938 2,177,836 Messner et al Oct. 31, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 115,878 Australia Oct. 1, 1942 

